Iyiola Ajani "Otunba" Omisore is a Nigerian businessman and politician, who was Deputy Governor of Osun State from 1999–2003. Subsequently, he served as a member of the Nigerian Senate for Osun East from 2003 to 2009.
Background
Iyiola Omisore was born 15 September 1957, into a royal family in Ile-Ife, where he also grew up. He is the son of Oba David Olajide Omisore and the grandson of Lowa Omisore, both of Ayepe, Olode. Iyiola is also the grandson of the Late Olufewara Kabiyesi Oba Titus Adetoba of the Oseganderuku ruling house in Ifewara where his mother, Princess Emila Adejola ruled as Regent until her death in 2006. In August 2006, his father was crowned as the first Olu of Olode Town in Ife SouthLocal Government Area of Osun State.
Education
He had his primary education at the SS Peter and PaulRoman Catholic School in Ile-Ife and his secondary education at St. John Grammar School Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria from 1972 – 1977. He later attended Federal Polytechnic Owo in Ondo State Nigeria. He then sat for and passed his Full Technological Certificate Examinations at the Technology College, Reading UK, and obtained a diploma Certificate in Electrical/Electronics Engineering. Omisore holds two engineering degrees and a postgraduate certificate from Brunel University Uxbridge, as well as a PhD in Infrastructure Finance from the International School of Management, Paris, France. He is currently undergoing his DBA programme at the same institution. A Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, England and Wales, he has undergone several courses in different high-profile institutions including Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA; ABS Academy, Athens, Greece; University of Carolina; West London College; Harvard University and the Internationale Weiterbildung und Entwicklungg GmbH, Germany. In January 2013, he completed and was awarded a Doctorate Degree by the International School of Management in Paris.
Business
He started his early professional life 1983 with Drake and Gordham while in the UK, rising to top management positions. Two years later, he was brought back to Nigeria by its Nigerian division, Drake and Scull Ltd where he honed his project management skills. He later established his own engineering firms; Mechelec Consultants –an Engineering Consultancy outfit and Chrisore Eng Ltd – an Electrical Engineering firm. While with Drake and Scull Nig. Ltd, he supervised the construction of 19 airfields including the Makurdi Air Force Base and other projects like the Sokoto and Makurdi Rice Mills, Taraku Oil Mill, Sokoto University Teaching Hospital, Onitsha Flour Mills, Bank of The North Building, World Bank Assisted Health Projects for Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States and the Imiringi Rural Electrification project in Bayelsa State.
Political career
Deputy Governorship
Omisore served as Deputy State Governor of Osun State from 1999 – 2003 under Governor Adebisi Akande.
Senate
Even though he was still on trial, he was elected to the Senate to represent Osun East constituency in April 2003 running on the platform of the PDP and served till the expiration of his term in 2007. He was reelected in 2007 and appointed to committees for Police Affairs, Housing, Culture & Tourism, Aviation and Appropriation. In May 2008, he was named a member of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review. In October 2008, Omisore was one of the Nigerian delegates to the 5th Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Governorship Race
He ran for Governor of Osun State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party and he lost the 9 August 2014 guber election to Rauf Aregbesola who was the incumbent Governor. He contested for the governorship seat on the platform of the Social Democratic Party in Osun gubernatorial election 2018 where he came third behind Senator Ademola Adeleke of the People's Democratic Party and eventual winner, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress.
Awards and achievements
He was conferred with the Nigerian Society of Engineers Presidential Merit Award for Support and Contribution to the Development of the Society in 2007. Also, he was honoured with the Prime Award for Remarkable Contribution to the Growth of Engineering Profession and Society when the NSE was celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2008. Personal Life He lives in Abuja with his wife and children, where he now runs his business, Chrisore Engineering.
